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This past week, a judge rejected claims that juniors should take the blame for seniors’ mistakes, and new data revealed discrepancies in the pace of change to pay disparity. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 2 to 6 March, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Negligence proceedings against controversial lawyer to continue after death
An alleged victim of professional negligence had to change course in her proceedings against a law firm and a principal who has faced a number of accusations in recent years, including the misuse of funds, unpaid wages and barrister fees, and client intimidation.
2. Senior lawyers must answer for their own mistakes, court says
A Supreme Court judge emphatically rejected any suggestion that junior lawyers should shoulder the blame for the mistakes of their superiors.
3. Sydney lawyer charged with allegedly stealing $15m from clients
A Sydney lawyer has been charged with allegedly stealing nearly $15 million from clients for the purpose of gambling.
4. Boutique firms clash over client file transfer
A dispute between two Sydney firms over client files spilled over into the Supreme Court and carried on for longer than the evidence justified.
5. ‘Like to f--k you right now’: Partner suspended after harassing multiple female colleagues
A senior partner who told a junior colleague she was so “sexy” and that he would “like to f--k you right now” at a firm Christmas party has been suspended for one year.
6. Disciplinary action taken against solicitor amid court referral
The NSW Law Society has refused to renew a practising certificate for a lawyer whose Kazakhstan-based firm has been embroiled in lengthy legal action with a former colleague and director.
7. OPINION: When lawyers feel too much
The emotional weight of practice can be both a hazard and a mark of conscience, writes Rebecca Ward, MBA.
8. ‘Cavalier’ barrister to be penalised for ‘blatant disregard, disrespect’ to court
In finding him guilty of professional misconduct for his behaviour in family law proceedings, an NSW tribunal was highly critical of a barrister for having a “loose and cavalier” attitude towards his legal obligations.
Most people who enter the legal system do not realise how early their fate has already been shaped, writes James Glissan.
10. Gender pay gap persists as top firms slide backwards
New gender pay gap data reveals an uneven pace of reform across the legal profession, with several of the worst-performing firms sliding further backwards within just 12 months.
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of professional services (including Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times). He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at:
